Lumière, Le Cinéma!
In one of those wonderful coincidences of history, lumière, the French word for “light,” was also the last name of brothers Auguste and Louis, whose brilliant invention, the cinematograph, helped to inaugurate the most beloved art form of the last 130 years. Institute Lumière director Thierry Frémaux uses Lumière, Le Cinema! to guide the viewer through over a hundred shorts—some famous, some forgotten, some never before seen—directed by Lumière and company. In the process, Frémaux illuminates how the brothers employed the camera as a creative instrument as they (and their operators) mastered framing, staging, and subject selection for quotidian and exotic microdocumentaries as well as the first ever fictional motion pictures. The result is not only a glorious re(telling) of the genesis of cinema but a profound meditation on the beautiful world captured—and the mysterious world imagined—by the Lumières.
Where to watch Lumière, Le Cinéma! in United States
Can I watch Lumière, Le Cinéma! in United States? Yes — you can stream Lumière, Le Cinéma! in United States on Criterion Channel.
Criterion ChannelClick a service to open Lumière, Le Cinéma! there. Availability last verified on October 2, 2026.
Where is Lumière, Le Cinéma! streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | — |
| Canada | Tele Quebec | — |
| France | — | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Canal VOD |
| Spain | Movistar Plus+, Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total , Filmin | — |
| Brazil | Telecine Amazon Channel | — |
| Japan | — | Apple TV Store, FOD |
About Lumière, Le Cinéma!
Lumière, Le Cinéma! is a 2024 French-language documentary and history film directed by Thierry Frémaux. The cast is led by Thierry Frémaux, Francis Ford Coppola, Roman Coppola. It has a runtime of 1h 44m. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
Lumière, Le Cinéma! was produced by Sorties d'Usine Productions and Institut Lumière and made in France. It was released on November 22, 2024.
- Director
- Thierry Frémaux
- Writers
- Thierry Frémaux
- Release date
- November 22, 2024
- Original language
- French
- Status
- Released
- Country
- France
- Production
- Sorties d'Usine Productions, Institut Lumière
Lumière, Le Cinéma! cast & crew
Lumière, Le Cinéma! was directed by Thierry Frémaux and written by Thierry Frémaux.
The cast features Thierry Frémaux as Self - Narrator (voice), Francis Ford Coppola as Self, Roman Coppola as Self, Bertrand Tavernier as Self, and Valerio Mastandrea as Self - Narrator (voice).
Behind the camera, it was produced by Maelle Arnaud.
Is Lumière, Le Cinéma! worth watching?
At 1h 44m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy documentary and history, Lumière, Le Cinéma! is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Lumière, Le Cinéma!
In United States, you can stream Lumière, Le Cinéma! on Criterion Channel. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Lumière, Le Cinéma!
Thierry Frémaux
Self - Narrator (voice)
Francis Ford Coppola
Self
Roman Coppola
Self
Bertrand Tavernier
Self
Valerio Mastandrea
Self - Narrator (voice)
Alain Chabat
Laurent Gerra
More from the Lumière ! (Thierry Frémaux) Collection
Lumière, Le Cinéma! — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Lumière, Le Cinéma! in United States?
Lumière, Le Cinéma! is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is Lumière, Le Cinéma! on Criterion Channel?
Yes — Lumière, Le Cinéma! is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is Lumière, Le Cinéma! in?
Lumière, Le Cinéma! is originally in French. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Lumière, Le Cinéma!?
Lumière, Le Cinéma! runs 1 hours 44 minutes (104 minutes).
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